By Simon Nare
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has credited the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) for the sharp increase of visitors from India and China.
The minister said in a statement that since the digital visa application system was introduced three months ago, 11000 visitors have come into the country.
More telling was that the applications for visas jumped from 50 a day in March to 200 a day in May.
“TTOS is a testament to what is possible when government works hand-in-hand with the private sector to remove barriers and unlock economic potential.
“By simplifying visa access for group travel through a secure, digital-first platform, the scheme has opened South Africa to new visitors who may otherwise have been lost to more accessible destinations,” she said.
De Lille commended Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber and his department for driving this reform.
She fully supports the expansion of TTOS.
The minister said the Electronic Travel Authorisation system would be key to driving a tourism boom throughout the world.
“These digital solutions are the future of global travel and South Africa must be at the forefront of this shift. Tourism is one of our nation’s most vital sectors for inclusive growth.
“Removing visa friction, particularly in key markets like China and India, is not just a win for international arrivals—it is a decisive intervention to stimulate job creation and economic resilience at home,” she said.
De Lille has committed to working with home affairs and industry stakeholders to expand reforms, grow the tourism economy and ensure that South Africa remains a destination of choice in an increasingly competitive environment.
The minister previously expressed confidence that the new system would lead to more people visiting the country, saying her department together with home affairs, worked tirelessly for the swift implementation of the new and improved visa initiative.
It came to fruition after an inter-ministerial committee comprising the two departments, the State Security Agency and Operation Vulindlela in the Presidency was established to tackle visa issues.
The system kicked into gear in February with 65 tour operators from South Africa, India and China, staring to process visas.
South Africa received 41,600 arrivals from India and 79,700 from China, a minor share of the country’s total arrivals for 2024, which stood at 8.9 million total international arrivals.
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